Mark's Thorts...

DA NU SOUFAFRIKIN ANTEM – Video

Kapcha — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:16:47 +0000

The countries problems were put on hold recently as the country rallied together to find out: Who is this special person who managed to completely bugger up an already sensitive national anthem? Check it out here:

HALLOWEEN: GOOD OR EVIL?

Kapcha — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:54:18 +0000

I try stay away from things that could be termed “over religious” or fanatical. I haven’t contributed much to conversations about the evils of Harry Potter or Pokemon or Noddy and Big ears – but I do feel the need to have my say about Halloween. What could possibly be wrong with Halloween? Surely it’s just make-believe? Surely there’s nothing wrong with dressing up and having some fun with fantasy? It’s just fun. Or is it?

THE HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF HALLOWEEN

300 years before Jesus was born, a civilization of people called the Celtics lived throughout the British Isles, Scandinavia and Western Europe. They were a common group, much like many segments of society today, but they were controlled by a secret society of priests and pagans called the Druids.

The Druids were Satanists who worshipped and served the demonic god of death – Samhain (pronounced say-man). These satanic priests literally controlled people’s lives through the mechanism of fear, and much death, disease, and destruction came upon the Celtics as a result of the Druids and their practices.

Each year on October 31^st the Druids celebrated the eve of the Celtic new year in honour of their pagan god Samhain. The “festival of samhain” more accurately called “the festival of death” was officially known, and is still recognized today by all Satanists, occultists and devil worshippers as the even of the new year of witchcraft.

Anton Lavey (the author of the satanic Bible and high priest of the church of satan) says the three more important days to a Satanist are 1) their birthday, 2) April 30^th, the day the church of satan was founded, and 3) Halloween.

Lavey says it is on this night that satanic, occult and witchcraft powers are at their highest potency level and any witch or occultist who is having difficulty with a spell or a curse can achieve success on October 31^st because satan and his powers are at the best that night (because of the emphasis people put on this day).

October 31^st, Halloween, is the eve of the new year for witchcraft. The World Book Encyclopaedia says it is the beginning of all that is “cold, dark and dead.” When you send your little children out to go “trick or treating” you’re actually telling them to go celebrate all that is cold, dark and dead. According to Collier’s Encyclopaedia, the theme of the celebration, which runs through modern Halloween celebrations, comes from both the old druidic celebrations, and the old Roman festivals in honour of Pomona, goddess of fruit, which were brought to Britain during the Roman occupation.

TRICK OR TREATING

The Druid priests would go from house to house demanding all sorts of strange foods for their own consumption and to offer later to lord Samhain, at the “festival of death”. If the village people would not give the Druids the food they demanded they would speak a demonic curse over the home, and history claims that someone in that family would die within the year. Thus you have “trick or treat”.

The Druids would carry with them a large turnip, which they had hollowed out on the inside with a carved face on front to represent the demonic spirit they depended upon for their power and knowledge. This spirit is called a “familiar spirit” (See Acts 16:16-18). The turnip, lighted by a candle from within, was a lantern for the Druids as they went from house to house at night. Now it was believed by the druids that their familiar spirit would inhabit these turnips and assist them in carrying out the spells spoken over the homes and lives of those refusing the druids demands.

When these practices came to North America in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, turnips weren’t prominent, but we did have a vegetable native to this country that was soon substituted for the turnip – the pumpkin. The name given to the spirit that inhabited the turnip was “Jock” and upon arriving in America it became “Jack who lives in the lantern” or “Jack-o-lantern”

As you can clearly see, there is nothing Christian about Halloween. It is today what it has always been - a day dedicated to the devil.

Why should Christians not honour Halloween? It is the spirit behind Halloween which makes it wrong. If we really desire to honour the Lord in our lives and family, then we must teach our children concerning the truth about Halloween, and if they really feel the need to do something on the day (because “all their friends are doing something”) provide them with an alternative to “trick or treating” – something else they are into that could be fun (a dress up party for example).

ON A LOCAL LEVEL

About ten years ago I did a paper on Satanism for a class presentation at college. I have tried hard to find the material, without success. But I remember having material prepared by Inspector Jonker, who is no stranger to the East London community. He used to be with the the Special and Occults Crime unit in East London, and has since left the force. He has written extensive material on Satanism in South Africa, and has recently testified in the court case regarding the murder at the Nic Diederichs technical high school.

At the time of preparing this paper, Inspector Jonker’s investigations proved that there were an increased number of kidnappings the week preceeding October 31^st, and in most cases, those kidnapped were never found. He linked these kidnappings to the human sacrifices that take place in satanic ritual on the 31^st of October.

In addition to the kidnappings, many outdoor sites were discovered to be the venue for these sacrifices, one of them being at the top of Edge road, overlooking the Nahoon River (I saw the remains of a ceremony myself at this particular spot).

Halloween celebrations have crept into South Africa in an increasing way in the last few years. As with most tools of the enemy, the evils are disguised as fun, fantasy and innocent. I’m encouraging you to think twice about your involvement in celebrating that which is cold, dark and dead.

Divorce

Kapcha — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:20:50 +0000

In dealing with lifes experiences, we often learn the most about the complexities of life through the eyes of others. We see our lack in it’s proper perspective when confronted with a homeless person; we stop complaining about our flu when confronted with a cancer sufferer struggling to do their shopping, and we release the anger we had toward a friend for a petty crime when we are confronted by a lonely soul.

Arguably, though, we learn the most about life from those who haven’t experienced it for long.

A ten year old Chicago girl had this to say about divorce:

Divorce shakes you off the ground
Divorce whirls you all around
Divorce makes you all confused
Divorce forces you to choose
Divorce makes you feel all sad
Divorce pushes you to be mad

Divorce makes you wander who cares
Divorce leaves you thoroughly scared
Divore makes a silent home
Divorce leaves you all alone

Divorce is supposed to be an answer
Divorce, in fact, is emotional cancer.

CHURCH ROCKED

Kapcha — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:23:45 +0000

As a pastoral type, the common perception is that I love Sunday Church. Well – this is fair, as I generally do. But I REALLY love Sunday Church when a combination of God’s desire to bless His Children, a Team’s desire to lead their congregation, and a congregation’s desire to meet with their God end up working together, at the right time, creating a service where people leave inspired, ready to face the day. This morning was such a service.

After a really busy week, and not too much time for relaxation during this long weekend, I was really excited to see God move in an exciting way at Quigney Baptist this morning. After my amazing wife and partner in ministry lead the congregation in a powerful time of Praise & Worship, I preached on the ‘Language of Worship’ (being the language of our hearts, hands and His Word) and loved the privilege of getting to share something I’m so very passionate about, with the 1000 odd people who attended the service this morning. The atmosphere was electric, and I have no doubt that people left somewhat better for having shared the service.

Were you there? What was your experience? What has God done in YOUR life this week… come on, share it…

Tammy & The team leading us in Worship

KRIS ALLEN RELEASES FIRST SINGLE

Kapcha — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:53:36 +0000

American Idol Winner 2009

Kris Allen, American Idol 2009 winner, yesterday released his first single – a cover of The Script’s “Live like we’re dying”… while I was a huge fan of Kris on Idols, really enjoy his ‘No Boundaries’ AI release and have used it numerous times for talks – I’m a little disappointed by his first single. Kris has a big range, great falsetto and a good ear for arranging – none of which comes out on this song. What do you think?

Listen to it here:

Kris Allen – “Live Like We’re Dying” Lyrics

Sometimes we fall down and can’t get back up
We’re hiding behind skin that’s too tough
How come we don’t say I love you enough
Till it’s too late, it’s not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won’t come
We could make a feast from these crumbs
And we’re all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you, what would you wish you would’ve done

[Chorus]
Yeah, gotta start
Looking at the hand of the time we’ve been given here
This is all we got and we gotta start thinkin’ it
Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’
Gotta live like we’re dying
We only got 86 400 seconds in a day
To turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em while we got the chance to say,
Gotta live like we’re dying

And if you plane fell out of the skies
Who would you call with your last goodbyes
Should be so careful who we live out of our lives
So when we long for absolution, there’ll be no one on the line

(Chorus)

Like we’re dying (x4)

(Chorus)

You never know a good thing until it’s gone
you never see a crash until its head on
All these people right when we’re dead wrong,
You never know a good thing till it’s gone

(Chorus)

Like we’re dying (x4)

(Chorus)

A NEW FOUND HOPE

Kapcha — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:14:44 +0000

While most of the country was supporting the national braai day (wind and all) my wife, friend and I were doing photography at the Selborne U/15 waterpolo tournament.

With 18 schools from around the country represented, and spending 2 full days around the young ‘up and comings’ of SA, I left the tournament somewhat pleased that there are in fact young men in the country with respect and manners. So to the teams we met in the last 2 days, keep it up… It was a pleasure doing business with u.

WET PANTS

Kapcha — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:03:00 +0000

Come with me to a third grade classroom….. There is a nine-year-old
kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between
his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is
going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has
happened. It’s never happened before, and he knows that when the boys
find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out,
they’ll never speak to him again as long as he lives.

The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and
prays this prayer, ‘Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now!
Five minutes from now I’m dead meat.’

He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in
her eyes that says he has been discovered.

As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is
carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in
front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the
boy’s lap.

The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself,
‘Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!’

Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy
is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives
him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other
children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The
sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that
should have been his has been transferred to someone else – Susie.

She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You’ve done enough, you klutz!’

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the
boy walks over to Susie and whispers, ‘You did that on purpose, didn’t
you?’ Susie whispers back, ‘I wet my pants once too.’

May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good…

FACING YOUR GETHSEMANE

Kapcha — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:29:00 +0000

One of the most rewarding things is to sit with people of vision, to share vision, to inspire vision and to encourage vision in others. I believe that for far too long the enemy, circumstances and even policies, have robbed the youth (particularly, but not solely) of their God-given vision.

After preaching a sermon based on Kris Allen’s “No Boundaries” a few weeks back, I recently preached a follow-on message at Quigney Baptist on the aspect of ‘FACING YOUR GETHSEMANE’. The message focussed on a theme that I have noticed being established in the last few months with regard to vision being rebirthed and the Spirit of God reminding His people why He created them.

The night before the most significant moment in history, the Messiah enters the Garden of Gethsemane in preparation. He was about to enter into his moment of significance, but before He could do that, Gethsemane was necessary. This is so true of where so many of us are today:

We want to step into our moment of significance, we want to make a difference, we want to step into our dream, vision and goal – but we haven’t been made aware of ‘the night before’.

(Before reading on, it would benefit you to read Luke 22:39-36)

Photo: Mark Odendaal – Gethsemane, May 2008

Every Christian who is preparing for a moment of significance in the Kingdom; every Christian hwo is ready to step into God’s plan for their lives; every Christian who is going to move into the revaltion of God in their lives WILL face a Gethsemane experience.

This begs the question: What happens at Gethsemane?

1. SPIRITUAL BATTLES OCCUR

We will move into our destiny and start living out our vision with far less frustation if we can learn to undersatnd and recognize that there are two spiritual entities involved in our journey to significance.

On the one side is the Creator, God – originator of our vision and creator of our passion, equipping and strengthening us. On the other side as our adversary, who knows that a Christian with vision is dangerous to the kingdom of darkness. He will do what he can to ensure that we take our eye off the giver of the vision, and focus on the struggles we encounter. Herein lie the spiritual battles.

2. LONELINESS IS EXPERIENCED

People with vision talk – they share that vision. Sadly, however, there are more dream takers (people who will speak against your vision) than dream makers (people who support your vision) in this world, and often the journey to accomplishing your vision has a lonely part to it. The exciting part, however, is that the loneliness is temporal. “He gives and takes away” is true even in the journey of our vision, and a true God-given vision will always be accompanied by true Dream Makers.

3. HONESTY MUST BE EXPRESSED

In Gethsemane, things are exposed. Things of the heart, sinful things, personality flaws – all these things come out. And in the time of spirit filled Worship (John 4:23, 24) we need to be open and honest about these things before God. Jesus was real with his father: “Is there no other way?” In the same way, you and I are to be real with our Father! Hiding things, will only keep us in Gethsemane longer.

4. SUBMISSION IS REQUIRED

One of the most important parts not only of Gethsemane, but of life as a whole, is the aspect of submission. Submission firstly to God and His will (Matt 6:33) but also submission to God’s delegated authority.

Jesus died for the church, he works through the church, and He will return to take the Church with Him. In the meantime – He has placed a delegated authority (the Senior Pastor, the head elder, the priest – whatever applies to your situation) as an extension of His authority. Any vision and dream needs to fall in submission to the vision of your spiritual head and delegated authority before it can come to fulfillment.

5. STRENGTH IS RECEIVED

Once we’ve ‘passed’ the four stages as it were, the most incredible thing happens. Scripture tells us the Jesus was strengthened. What really struck me about this, is that the strength He was given at Gethsemane was sufficient for the rest of His journey on earth. That same strength is made available to us.

God has given you vision – He has a plan for you. Start moving in the right direction and you are bound to face some battles. You’re bound to have some friends or family not entirely support that vision. But be truthful before the Lord, share that vision with your pastor so he can counsel you, and you will soon find that what started off as a dream, idea and though, has become an incredible reality in your life.

See the Gethsemane experience as a blessing, not a curse.

SEASONS

Kapcha — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:16:00 +0000

There's a beautiful scripture in the book of Eccl that reminds us not
only that there is a season for everything (that in itself is a
beautiful comfort I'm every stage of life) but that "everything is
beautiful in it's time.

Today (Friday 29 Aug) saw the end of what has been an incredible
season for me as a presenter on Link FM radio. Each time Ive switched
that mic on over the past 3 years Ive been aware of the many people
whom I had the privilege of speaking to. It is therefore natural that
there is a sadness as I bid the station farewell.

But with each closing door God, the architect of our destiny ushers us
toward another, making every season we experience beautiful in its time.

Let that encourage you.

Being a regular social networker I'm exposed to many status updates
relating to the frustrations people face being at whatever stage of
life they're at. I challenge those people in particular to not only
accept the season, but to grow, mature and develop through it.

For everything, there is a season, and He makes everything beautiful
in its time.

Sent from iPhone 3G

Maximize Your Leadership

Kapcha — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:15:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, East London was blessed with the ministry of a great ‘strong man’ team in the form of Team Impact. Being the co-ordinator of the event, I was blessed even more by being able to enjoy the behind the scenes ministry of integrity, passion, commitment and (relevant to this blog) – leadership.

Team Leader Shonn Keels’ gift of leadership is evident to anyone who has had the privilege of sharing just a few minutes of time with him. In his latest book “Maximize Your Leadership” Shonn shares practically the many lessons he has learned in his ministry as a God-anointed leader.

I am honoured that Shonn allowed me the opportunity to read his book before it’s publication, and recommend it to anyone who would like to grow practically and spiritually in their leadership. We aim to have this book available in East London shortly, but in the meantime, check out what Amazon.com has to say:

Where there is no vision, the people perish.
(Proverbs 29:18, King James Version)
Maximize Your Leadership provides powerful, essential lessons for both current and upcoming leaders aspiring to create their own visions of what the future can look like with God’s help.

Shonn Keels is a former Senior Pastor with more than two decades of leadership experience who has dedicated his life equipping global leaders with the skills needed to focus on God’s will and lead at greater levels. Keels shares a host of leadership essentials that include proven principles, effective tools, and stories of real-life leaders, as well as Keels’ own failures, struggles, and challenges in leadership. In this book he teaches others how to:

Communicate a vision to a crowd

Do your best the first time

Commit to leading out of the box

Select the right team

Practice the art of encouragement

Maximize value in others

For those ready to lead with greater passion, excellence, creativity, and joy, Maximize Your Leadership provides the kind of inspirational guidance that will encourage all leaders to discover power through Christ to change the world and turn their dreams into reality.

MAXIMIZE YOUR LEADERSHIP is available at http://www.amazon.com/Maximize-your-Leadership-Shonn-Keels/dp/1440156832/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250763306&sr=1-1